God be with you, mighty warrior!

In Judges 6–7, we find ancient Israel in a seven-year season of suffering at the hand of the Midianites because of their disobedience to God and continued allegiance to false idols. It was so bad that Israel had constructed underground hiding places in the mountains and caves so the Midianites would not find them. 

For they [the Midianites] came up with their herds and tents, numerous as locusts; they and their camels could not be counted. They invaded the land to destroy it.
—Judges 6:5

It’s at this point in the story that Israel again cries out to God. And so God, in his mercy, sends a prophet to remind them yet again of how their creator God delivered them out of Egypt, the house of bondage and gave them a clear command: “I said to you : ‘I am God your Lord; do not worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you did not obey me.’” 

Then, an angel of God shows up in Gideon’s city, while Gideon is hiding from the enemy, trying to shake out wheat in a winepress in order to keep it hidden from the Midianites.

The angel of God appeared to him and said to him ‘God be with you, mighty warrior!’

And Gideon immediately replies:

Please sir, If God is among us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders. Of which our fathers told us: ‘Indeed, God took us out of Egypt?’ For God has abandoned us now and delivered us into the hands of Midian!”

Now let’s pause for a minute cos there’s a lot going on here. 

An angel of God shows up to Gideon and rather than stand speechless or bow in reverence, he jumps right to the poignant question we all have: Why God?!

Why are all of these things happening to us.

Why are we going through difficult seasons?

Why are you allowing us to suffer?

Won’t you deliver us like you did ages ago?

Won’t you come through like the stories our father told us?

Have you abandoned us?

How often do we ask all of these questions as we skip right past the initial declaration of the God’s messenger: “But you did not obey me.” God has given us a his words on how to live and stay free, yet all too often we want our own way, ignoring the way that God has given us to follow. 

And still sometimes, the things happening to us aren’t directly from our sin. Like Job, we ask “Why God.”  From our place of hiding from the enemy, we forget God’s goodness and mercy. 

And this brings us to another observation: God shows up to Gideon, while he’s hiding from the enemy and declares that he’s a mighty warrior. A mighty what? This man, who’s name literally means “hewer or feller, ” representing a warrior, is scared and not living up to his true identity and calling.

Often we need someone to call out the truth of who we really are. We hide out of fear of failure or fear of what others will think of us, and we neglect to step into the calling that God has put on our lives. 

Perhaps God is waiting on you to bring His deliverance for others.

God completely ignores Gideon’s questions of why. He simply speaks:

Adonai turned to him and said, "Go in this strength of yours and save Isra'el from the hands of Midyan. Haven't I sent you?"
—Judges 6:14

In the original Hebrew, no longer is this just a messenger of God. God, Yahweh himself speaks to Gideon, reminding him of the strength that he’s been given and reminding him that he has been called and sent.

The answer to the oppression of the Midianites, the deliverance from the consequences of the Israelite’s disobedience, and the display of God’s mercy and justice was to happen through Gideon. Not in a way that was within Gideon’s own strength. Not in a way that others would be tempted to take the credit, but in a way that would highlight God’s miraculous power and faithful word to His children.

Maybe like Gideon you’ve been down and out, set back by a brutal season of attack from the enemy.

Maybe you’re hiding, thinking that you’re not good enough or worthy enough to do what God’s put on your heart.

Maybe you’re frustrated at the injustice you see happening in the world or in your direct circumstances. 

And maybe like Gideon it’s time to hear the words of the Lord speak truth over you. To remind you of your true identity and calling.  To be the answer to the prayers of others who have been crying out to God for help.

So may this be the words you need to hear today:
“God be with you, mighty warrior—Go in this strength of yours, for the Lord has sent you!”